Overflow device for pressure-tanks, &amp;c.



W. H. RIDGWAY. OVERPLOW DEVICE FOR PRESSURE TANKS, 6m.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 7, 1906.

Patented Mar. 9, 1909.

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UNITED STATES,

PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. RIDGWAY. OF COATESVIIJIJE, PENNSYLVANIA.

6VEBFI1OW DEVIGE FOR PI IBBU'B E-TANKS,

Specification of lqettm Patent.

Patented me. a, in.

Application filed September 7, 1906. scan No. 388,618.

Coatesville, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Overflow Devices for Pressure-Tanks, &c., of which the followin is a specification.

he main obj eet of my invention is to construct 'a valve in such a manner that it will allow for the slow flow of liquid through it, and will close against the rush of steam or other fluid under pressure. This object Iattain in the following manner, reference being had to the accompanyin drawings, in which:

Figure 1, is a view 0 suflicient of a tank showing the application of my invention to it 3 Fig. 2, is a sectional view of my improved valve showing the valve in the open position; Fi 3, is a similar viewto Fig. 2, showing the va ve closed, and Fig. 4,,is an end view of the valve.

My invention is especially ada ted for use in connection with the steam hy raulic hoist for which application for patent was filed by me on the 30th day of September, 1904, Serial No. 226,690, and allowed April 9, 1906.

Referring to Fig. 1, of the drawings, A is a pressure tank having a steam inlet pi e a and an outlet ipe b for the fluid within t e tank, this pipe extends to the elevator cylinder in the present instance. The inflow and the outflow of steam is regulated by suitable valve mechanism, not shown in this instance, but fully described in the above mentioned ap lication. The tank A is a closed tank,

an connected to the tank is an overflow lpipe C, and in order to preserve a proper supp y of liquid in the tank at all times, a limited volume is constantly fed to the tank A through a suitable valved pipe e, the surplus liquid assing ofl through the overflow pi e C. his overflow pipe is provided with a va ve D clearly shown in detail in Figs. 2 and 3 which is so constructed that the li uid when it reaches the overflow pipe wil pass slowly valve would immedlately close preventing the escape-of the steam through the overflow pipe 0, causin the pressure of the steam to orce the liqui into the tank out through the pipe I) to actuate the piston in the cylinder in the elevator or other machine. It will be understood that by allowing the steam to ex- H. R DGWAY,

return through the pipe I) intothe tank.

. Referring-now to, i'g's. '2 and 3, D iathe valve casing h ving a partition 12, in which-is a valve seat (1 with aredu'ced opening (2. i is a ball valve made solid in the present instance, to give it sufficient weight to quickly drop off the seat when the fluid cut off. This ball rests, when cc of the valve seat, in a pocket '5' in a plug I inserted ime through the pipe 2.. the liquid wduld ressure is in the underside of the valve casing D. The

relation of the ball to the seat is such that when the fluid in the tank or other suitable container, reaches the overflow pi c, it will flow through the valve casing an ass the valve without disturbing it, or sho d steam or other fluid under pressure be turned into the tank, the rush of steam through the overflow pipe will act upon the ball and lift it immediately to its seat as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3. The ball will remain in this position, closin the valve until the steam or other fluid un er pressure is allowed to escape from the tank, when the ball will immediately drop to the position shown in Fig. 2, and if the liquid in the tank reaches the overflow pipe it will slowly flow through the valve casing and past the valve to waste.

. In order to break the vacuum on the exhaust side of the partition (1 of the valve casing D, I provide a vent 0, otherwise the ball may, in some instances, be retained a ainst its seat after the steam pressure was re uced.

In setting u the mechanism the valve casing D is to e very carefully adjusted so that the inrush of steam will cause the ball to close a' ainst its seat, as it will be seen that the bal must be lifted bodily. against its seat in order to close the valve, and in some instances, as shown in Fig. 4, the valve casing may have to be turned so that the valve cas-' ing will be set at an angle to the vertical to permit the ball to more readily close against 1ts seat.

I claim 1. The combination of a valve casing hav be afl'ected by the flow of liquid but will be raised by the action ofsteam or other fluid under pressure so as to close the opening'in the partition. l 2. The combination of a tank, an overflow l pipe therefor, a valve casing connected to the overflow pipe, said valve casing havin a transverse partition, a valve seat mounte in the partition and having a reduced openin a removable plug screwed into the undersi e of'the valve casing directly under the valve seat, said lug having a pocket, a weighted ball valve ess in diameter than the diameter 1 of the ocket, said ball valve normally resting in t e,pocket, the ball and casing being so constructed and arranged to permit the ball to rise bodily and to close against a seat when steam or fluid under pressure is admitted to the tank, but when the li uid in the tank overflows through the )ipe t 1e valve will not be raised to check the flow of the liquid, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM H. RIDGWAY.

Witnesses:

WILL. A. BARR, Jos. H. KLEIN. 

